zinn's diner

zinn's diner

has anybody ever eaten at Zinn's diner in pennsylvania", many years ago we would take the kids to this heavenly place,located near the Penn. Dutch communities, it had a huge likeness of a farmer out front(24'feet at least)......WHAT FOOD, WHAT PORTIONS<WHAT SERVICE!!!!!! chicken to die for,pies,noodles,soups,etc,etc,etc.

They have an interesting menu but one of their specials was pig's stomach. We ain't got that in Knoxville

Paul E. SmithKnoxville, TN

Paul, the roadfood connoisseur you are, you shouldn't frown at pig stomach. It's just a variation of sausage made w/ sausage and potatoes in a pig stomach (think of it as a sausage casing). By the way, Zinn's is great, but head south towards Lancaster to the Akron Diner in Akron or farther past Lancaster to Willow Valley for similar meals as Zinn's. Smorgasbord at Willow Valley is wonderful.

I guess if they had called it a sausage, I would have understood, but being from Tennessee, we are a little behind and quite frankly, I thought it was what it sounded like and that was not very appetizing.

Oneiron, the smorgasbord at Shady Maple in Blue Ball is even better than Willow Valley. Have you ever eaten there?

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Originally posted by oneiron339

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Originally posted by Sundancer7

[url][/url][url]www.zinnsdiner.com[/url]

They have an interesting menu but one of their specials was pig's stomach. We ain't got that in Knoxville

Paul E. SmithKnoxville, TN

Paul, the roadfood connoisseur you are, you shouldn't frown at pig stomach. It's just a variation of sausage made w/ sausage and potatoes in a pig stomach (think of it as a sausage casing). By the way, Zinn's is great, but head south towards Lancaster to the Akron Diner in Akron or farther past Lancaster to Willow Valley for similar meals as Zinn's. Smorgasbord at Willow Valley is wonderful.

Oneiron, the smorgasbord at Shady Maple in Blue Ball is even better than Willow Valley. Have you ever eaten there?

Out of state guests over age 60 always love Shady Maple. Since they have remodeled and expanded, the food seems to be a lot more institutionalized, especially the desserts. And the gravy tastes canned now.

The Windmill family restaurant at the corner of Routes 10 & 23 still has good gravy.

Re: Pigs stomachBeing a Tennessean "deported" to SouthCentral PA, I also realized that while southerners generally use every part of the pig from snout to tail..the PA Dutch found a use for the stomach. It is called "Hogmaw" (with slight local spelling variations) and is simply pigs stomach stuffed with sausage and potatos. Think of it as Amish Haggis!Incidentally, to steal a quote, my wife (from VA) and I(TN) have developed a theory that the Cuisine of SouthCentral PA was based on a dare!

Oneiron, the smorgasbord at Shady Maple in Blue Ball is even better than Willow Valley. Have you ever eaten there?

Yeah, I grew up a few miles from there, we used to stop in on our way to French Creek Park, and I agree, their quality has dropped somewhat. I've always been partial to Willow Valley since I grew up in Lancaster.

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Originally posted by oneiron339

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Originally posted by Sundancer7

[url][/url][url]www.zinnsdiner.com[/url]

They have an interesting menu but one of their specials was pig's stomach. We ain't got that in Knoxville

Paul E. SmithKnoxville, TN

Paul, the roadfood connoisseur you are, you shouldn't frown at pig stomach. It's just a variation of sausage made w/ sausage and potatoes in a pig stomach (think of it as a sausage casing). By the way, Zinn's is great, but head south towards Lancaster to the Akron Diner in Akron or farther past Lancaster to Willow Valley for similar meals as Zinn's. Smorgasbord at Willow Valley is wonderful.

Hey Vibs... Is there really a Charles Manson- Richard Nixon Line??? Or did you replace the Mason-Dixon Line with it? Are we talking about the line that forms the border between PA and Maryland? Everyone knows that Grits are only grown and proceesed south of that line ! Any SoCal Readers would know that the Manson-Nixon Line would run from the Sharon Tate Home in Hollywood Hills to Yucca Loma in Orange County !!!

Some history here (and this really gets away from the Zinn's Diner thread): While Mason and Dixon were surveying for the border between PA and MD, they got to arguing over the water jug and the dipper at break time. The boss got tired of the arguing and wanted them to get back to work so he said,"alright Mason here's a jar for you to drink from and Dixon, here's a cup. Now each of you have a drinking device, and oh, by the way each of you stay on either side of this here line so you'll stop arguing." That's how the Mason-Dixon line was established and how we got Mason Jars and Dixie Cups. True story. Al the Mayor was there.

Out of state guests over age 60 always love Shady Maple. Since they have remodeled and expanded, the food seems to be a lot more institutionalized, especially the desserts. And the gravy tastes canned now.

Just realized how snippy this must have sounded. My apologies, Cheesewit. Shady Maple is still a very good smorgasboard. It's just that it used to be a place that a Roadfooder could enjoy discovering and now it's a bus trip destination for New jersey AARP groups. I really hate when that happens.

RubyRose, I knew what you meant. It has become the new destination of choice for senior centers and senior groups. I haven't eaten there since it expanded and started catering to the bus groups. I still enjoy the fresh baked breads from the market next door.

I think it is something about the Ohio River. Once you get north of it, I think people think of grits a poison.

Paul E. SmithKnoxville, TN

They definitely have grits at Shady Maple. I was just there two weeks ago for breakfast. That place is huge and they have great food. I'm not sure about Zinn's though. My grandmother worked their 5 years ago, until they got new owners, and at that time they did have grits. However I have not been to Zinn's in years, so I'm not sure if they still have them.

Boy this brings back memories. Right out of college my first job was in Ephrata, PA. Zinn's Diner was a mainstay back in the late-eighties. Best Scrapple I ever had. Can't forget shopping at the Green Dragon Farmers Market followed by a quick bite at Zinn's. Good wholesome food, not authentic Amish but good enough to satisfy any appetite. Miss living in Lancaster PA County .. been in Florida too long.

Stop by and say goodbye to Amos! We thank our many loyal customers and the thousands of travellers who took exit 21 off the turnpike for a hearty meal at Zinn's. Save 25% at the gift shop as we close out our inventory.

Hey elcoraidercheer I used to live in Ephrata and knew Chris Zinn back in the late eighties. Who purchased the diner? .. I can't believe they're closing during the busiest time of year. As a former restaurateur it makes no sense. If you have any links to local news it would be appreciated.

Originally posted by kangolpimpThe same folks who disparage grits will fall all over themselves to praise the yellow version when served with a mushroom sauce, provided you call it polenta.

Some in the anti grits camp are really just anti grits for breakfast, which they regard as lowbrow cuisine. If you present them the same grits as a bed for shrimp and call it "low country cuisine" and serve it to them in an upscale setting, they can abide it that way.

Myself? I will choose hashbrowns over grits if I have that choice, but if I don't, I adopt a "when in Rome" attitude and go with the buttery flow.

although Zinns is worth visiting for the kitschy giant Amish statute far better Pennsylvania Dutch food is found about 10 miles further south on route 272 at the Akron Restaurant (reviewed by the Sterns onthis website)

I love diners, and Zinn's was a classic. The Akron Restaurant is VERY good and I do enjoy their food more than Zinn's.

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Originally posted by brookquarry

although Zinns is worth visiting for the kitschy giant Amish statute far better Pennsylvania Dutch food is found about 10 miles further south on route 272 at the Akron Restaurant (reviewed by the Sterns onthis website)